ISO/IEC 42001 – Management system for responsible AI

AI is used in an increasing number of organizations, both as support in internal processes and as part of products and services. At the same time, requirements for control, risk management, regulatory compliance, and trust are increasing. Certification according to ISO/IEC 42001 demonstrates that the organization works systematically with AI governance and has established processes for managing risks and opportunities related to AI systems.

At this time, Nordic Certification offers certification according to ISO/IEC 42001 as a non-accredited certification. At the same time, we are working towards accreditation in Sweden through Swedac. 

Benefits of ISO/IEC 42001 certification

Becoming certified according to ISO/IEC 42001 provides several business and operational benefits:

1. Strengthened trust among customers and stakeholders
   Demonstrate that the organization works systematically with the responsible and controlled use of AI.
2. Better control of AI risks
   Identify and manage risks related to areas such as information security, data quality, transparency, bias, human oversight, and regulatory compliance.
3. Clearer responsibility and governance
   Create a structure for roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and follow-up of AI systems.
4. Support for regulatory compliance
   Facilitate the work of meeting requirements from legislation, customers, and other stakeholders, for example in relation to the EU AI Act, data protection, and information security.
5. More efficient internal processes
   Establish common working methods for the development, procurement, use, review, and decommissioning of AI solutions.
6. Competitive advantage in procurement processes
   Certification can be a clear way to demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and control in matters relating to AI.

How the certification process works

Certification according to ISO/IEC 42001 normally takes place in several steps:

1. Initial dialogue and quotation
   We review the organization’s operations, scope, AI use, and any existing management systems.
2. Defining the scope
   The parts of the organization, processes, and AI systems to be covered by the certification are defined.
3. Stage 1 audit
   The auditor reviews whether the management system is sufficiently established and prepared for the certification audit. The focus includes scope, policy, risk management, documentation, and basic governance.
4. Stage 2 audit
   The auditor assesses how the management system works in practice. This may include interviews, review of processes, risk assessments, controls, follow-up, and examples of how AI systems are managed.
5. Certification decision
   After the audit has been completed and any nonconformities have been addressed, a certification decision is made.
6. Surveillance audits
   The certification is followed up through recurring audits to ensure that the management system continues to function and improve over time.

Non-accredited certification and work towards Swedac accreditation

ISO/IEC 42001 is still a relatively new standard. At this time, Nordic Certification offers certification according to ISO/IEC 42001 as a non-accredited certification.

This means that the certification is carried out according to a structured certification process, but that it is currently not covered by Nordic Certification’s accreditation.

Nordic Certification is working towards accreditation in Sweden through Swedac. The goal is to be able to offer accredited certification according to ISO/IEC 42001 when the conditions are in place.

For customers, this means that the certification can already be used as a way to demonstrate structure, responsibility, and maturity in the work with AI, while it is important to be clear that the certification is currently non-accredited.

ISO/IEC 42001 and the EU AI Act

ISO/IEC 42001 is not the same as legal compliance with the EU AI Act, but the standard can provide important support in an organization’s work with AI governance, risk management, and control.

By implementing an AI management system, the organization can create better conditions for:

• Identifying which AI systems are used
• Assessing risks and consequences
• Documenting responsibilities and decisions
• Ensuring human oversight where needed
• Monitoring suppliers and AI solutions
• Managing incidents, nonconformities, and improvements

For organizations subject to requirements under the AI Act, ISO/IEC 42001 can therefore be a practical support, but it does not replace the need for a legal assessment of which requirements apply to the organization’s own operations.

ISO/IEC 42001 and ISO 27001

ISO/IEC 42001 has several points of connection with ISO 27001. Many AI risks are closely linked to information security, such as data protection, access control, logging, supplier management, and incident management.

Organizations that are already certified according to ISO 27001 often have a strong foundation to build on. ISO/IEC 42001 complements information security work by placing clearer focus on AI-specific issues, such as transparency, data quality, model governance, human oversight, and responsible use.

For organizations that already have an established management system, ISO/IEC 42001 can often be integrated into existing processes for risk management, internal audit, management review, and improvement work.

Is ISO/IEC 42001 right for your organization?

ISO/IEC 42001 is suitable for organizations that want to take a structured approach to AI and demonstrate that AI is used, developed, or provided in a responsible way.

The standard is particularly relevant if you:

• Use AI in business-critical processes
• Develop or sell AI-based services
• Use AI for analysis, decision support, or automation
• Process customer data, personal data, or other sensitive information with AI
• Want to strengthen customer trust
• Want to prepare the organization for increased requirements on AI governance

Do you need help with ISO/IEC 42001?

Nordic Certification helps you move forward with ISO/IEC 42001 through certification, guidance on the process, and clear dialogue about what is required to build a functioning management system for AI.

Contact us if you would like to know more about ISO/IEC 42001, how certification works, or how the standard can be integrated with your existing management systems.